Crohn’s Disease obstructive episode.

Managing an obstruction – a step by step plan

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1. Recognise your symptoms

You might have an obstruction if:

• You’re having abdominal pain or cramps.
• Your tummy is bloated or distended.
• You are feeling or being sick.
• You are constipated or not passing gas, or you might have bursts of diarrhoea.

2. Get in touch

3. While awaiting a response

1. Do not eat or drink for 3-6 hours.
2. Then only drink fluids for 24 hours.
3. Then gradually reintroduce easy to digest foods.

4. After speaking to your team

• Remain on a low residue diet (avoid nuts, seeds, brown cereals, fruit and vegetable skins).
• Consider drinking liquid supplements like Complan, Aymes or Modulin – this can help improve your symptoms, give you extra nutrients and reduce inflammation.

Go to hospital if:

• You are being sick persistently.
• You have severe abdominal pain.

Knowledge is power

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Know your flare triggers

• Certain things may worsen symptoms – avoid these if you can.
• Common triggers include alcohol, certain foods, and stress, but everyone is different.

Diet when not flaring

• Try to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Don’t skip meals to try to control symptoms.
• Don’t make big changes to your diet or cut out whole food groups unless advised to by a healthcare professional.

Diet during flare:

• Do not eat or drink for 3 – 6 hours.
• Then only drink fluids for 24 hours.
• Then gradually reintroduce easy to digest foods.
• Remain on a low residue diet (avoid nuts, seeds, brown cereals, fruit and vegetable skins)
• Consider drinking liquid supplements like Complan, Aymes or Modulin – this can help improve your symptoms, give you extra nutrients and reduce inflammation.

Stress and fatigue

• Try to make time to rest, relax and move your body.
• If stress or fatigue feels overwhelming, seek help. Take a look at our ‘General info for IBD’ section on our website.

Staying safe

Medication safety

• Do not stop or change any IBD treatment without speaking to a healthcare professional. Always let your IBD team know about any changes.
• If you are prescribed steroids, let your IBD team know as soon as possible.
• Avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac and naproxen as these can worsen gut inflammation.

Infection precaution

• If you get an infection (e.g. cold, flu, COVID), take a look at our ‘Active Infections’ section on our website.

Be prepared

• Get a ‘Can’t Wait!’ card and RADAR
• key to access disabled toilets.
• Take a look at our ‘General info for IBD’ section on our website.

If you have any questions or concerns contact